Game apparatus



(No Model.)

E. L. WILLIAMS. GAME APPARATUS.

No. 601,863. Patented Apr. 5, 1898.

F ucmsls PETERS ca, PuoTu-u'ma, wnsumcrou a c PATENT FFICEQ EDGAR L. WILLIAMS, or PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

GAM E APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,863, dated April 5, 1898.

Application filed July 9, 1896. Serial No. 598,521. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, EDGAR L. WILLIAMS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain-new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. This invention relates to improvements in game apparatus.

The object of the invention is to provide a game-board with a series of pens or inclosures into which counters are forced; and the further object is to provide games already in use with an additional structure, which will improve the game and make it more interesting and instructive and heighten the skill of the players.

My invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings letters of reference correspond with those of the specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a gameboard having four sides, showing a pen or inclosure on each of the sides, and which constitute the main portion of "my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the game-board, showing a strip secured to one of the sides, and which is used to form a pen or inclosure.

In the several figures the playing-surface is represented by A, the playing-field or field of position being bounded by a square A, while B B indicate the side pieces secured to the edges of the board and placed vertical to the playing-surface and above the same. As shown, the board is constructed with four sides or edges; but the number of these is immaterial. For instance, the board may be bounded by less than four sides or may be polygonal in form, as desired.

A strip 0, bent to theshape shown, is secured to each of the edge-pieces B or to the playing-surface, as desired,by suitable means.

At the middle of the length of each of the strips 0, on the edges next the playing-surface, is cut an opening 0', through which the counters are forced duringthe game into the to the holder.

pens'or inclosures. In each angle or corner of the playing-surface a pocket D may be made, and in the center of the playing-surface is described a circle E, within which counters or men are located at the outset of the game.

In constructing this game apparatus it is not my purpose to limit myself to a particular construction. The strips 0, whichtogether with the sides B constitute the pens or inclosures, may be of two pieces set at an angle to each other and a space left between their forward free ends for the entrance into the inclosure, if desired, and thus it is that the entire device may be rearranged without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A description of the method of playing will not be out of place here to understand the game and its counts.

Within the circle E are placed, as before stated, a number of counters, usually sixteen, one half of which are of a diiferent color from the other half, so that the opposing players may have an opposite color. The players use in turn a counter of a conspicuous color with which to force their opponents counters or men off the board, and the counters thus forced into the pens or inclosures and into the pockets are off the board and are lost to count hen all the disks of one color have been forced off the board, the op posite side makes a count for each man they have on the field. This is continued until one side has made a count of fifty or one hundred, or such definite number as has been agreed upon.

It is obvious that the rules of the game may be varied at will, as also the construction of the parts, as before stated.

The game is very interesting, and many skilful shots are possible with the aid of the strips 0, uponwhich glancing shots are made.

I claim 1. A game apparatus consisting of the combination of a board A bounded by the sides B, curved arch-piece C secured to each of the sides B and the said board A, to form inclosures, the openings C in the said archpieces, in the middle of the length thereof, a pocket or recess D cut into the surface of the board in each angle thereof-and located between the adjacent ends of the arches O, and the center playing-circle E, all arranged substantially as herein described and shown.

2. A game apparatus consisting of the combination of a board A, bounded by the sides 13, curved arch-pieces C secured to each of the sides B and the said board A to form in closures, the openings 0 in the said archpieces in the middle of the length thereof, a

:0 pocket or recess D cut into the surface of the board in each angle thereof and located be- 

